Electric flash-light.



J. G. MORGAN.

ELECTRIC FLASH LIGHT.

APPLICATION. man OCT. 29. 1915.

Patentgd June 6, 1916.

- lwuwlio; JC/Uargam JOHN C. HORGN, 0]? LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRIC FLASH-LIGHT. l

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. June 6, 1916.

Application filed October 29, 1915. Serial No. 58,627.

To all wlz'om it may-concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. MORGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Flash"- Lights, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a an improved electric flash light in which the lamp is supplied with current by a generator which is operated by a spring motor, and in which the lamp, generator, and motor, are arranged in a casing and one side of the handle of the casing is formed by a rocking lever which may be operated by squeezing the handle to wind-the spring of the motor as required,

. the invention consisting in the construction,

combination, and arrangement of devices hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electric flash light constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is partly an elevation and partly a sectional View on a plane at right angles to that of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views.

The casing 1 of my improved electric flash light has a cylindrical, outer end portion 2, an intermediate portion 3 which is flattened on opposite sides as at 4, and a handle portion 5 which is narrower than the intermediate portion and is also flattened on opposite sides as at 6. Thereby, a shoulder is formed between the outer end portion and the intermediate portion and a shoulder 8 is formed between the intermediate portion and thehandle portion. In the outer end of the casing is a lense 9 and a concavo-convex reflector 10. The electric lamp 11 projects through an opening inthe center of the reflector and is supplied with current by a generator 12, which may be of any suitable construction and which is arranged in the cylindrical portion 2 of the casing.

The shaft 13 of the generator has a pinion 14 which is engaged by a spur gear 15 on a shaft 16. Said shaft also has a pinion. 17 which is engaged by a spur gear 18 one. shaft 19. A pinion 20 on said shaft 19 engages a spur gear 21 on another shaft 22. Said shaft 22 also has a pinion 23 which engages a spur gear 24 on a shaft 25. Said shafts 16, 19,22, and 25 have their bearings in a suitable frame 26 which is secured in the interinediate portion of the casing 1. The shaft 25 has a small spur gear 27 which is engaged by a similar gear 28 on a shaft 29. A bevel gear 30 on the shaft 29 is engaged by a bevel gear 31 which is loose on a winding shaft 32. A spring 33 has one end connected to the gear 31 and the other end connected to the winding, shaft. A ratchet wheel 34 is fast to the winding shaft and is engaged by a pawl 35 which prevents reverse rotation of said ratchet wheel and winding shaft.

To turn the winding shaft in the required direction to wind the spring, I provide a rock arm 36 which is mounted on the winding shaft and carries a spring pressed pawl 37 which engages the ratchet wheel. One side of the handle portion 5 of the casing is formed by the long arm 38 of a rocking lever 39 which is pivoted at 40 and has a short arm 41 that extends into and nearly across the handle portion of the casing and is connected to a rod 42 with the rock arm 36. Said rod passes through'a guide 0 ening in a lug 43 which projects-inwardly rom one side of the casing and said rod has a stop 44. A coil extensile spring 45 is arranged on said rod, bears between said stop and said lug and serves to move the rock arm in one direction and to normally hold. the long. arm 38 of the rocking lever at one side of the handle portion of the casing, the outward movement of said arm being limited by a shoulder 46 thereon which shoulder engages the casing wall at the point 47. It

will be understood that by manually oper ating the rock lever as by squeezing the handle portion of the casing, the rock arm 36 may be oscillated to cause its pawl37 in coaction with the ratchet wheel, winding shaft, and pawl 45, to wind the spring 33. Power is transmitted from the shaft 29 to the generator shaft 13 through the gears hereinbefore described, so that the generator may be operated by the spring motorwhen it is desired touse the flash light. The operation of the spring-motor is controlled by a brake 48 which has a button 49, the stem rod 48 of which operates in a slot 50 in one {side of the casing. The electric circuit 51 between the generator and the electric lampincludes a circuit closer which has fixed members 52 and a movable member 53,

said movable member 53 being carried by a rod-54 which is operated'by a button 55.

and oiled when desired, I

brake will be released from the spring motor by the button 49 and the circuit closed by operatin the button 55 as will be understood. he buttons 49, 55 are on the opposite side of the casing from thelever 38. To enable the spring motor to be wound rapidly when desired, I also providethe winding shaft 32 .with a stem 56 which'projects from one flat side 4 of the intermediate portion of the casing and is'provided with a pivoted winding handle 57. Said flat side 4 has a depressed portion 58 around the stem 56 and to receive the said winding handle to hold the latter out of the way. To enable the generator and gearing to be inspected rovide a slot 59 in one side of the cylindrical portion 2 of the casing and I also provide a slide 60' to close and open said slot as desired.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

In an electric flash light, a casing, an electric lamp, a generator to supply current to the lamp, a spring motor to operate the generator, a rock arm to actuate the winding mechanism of the motor, a lever arran ed wholly in one side of the casing and having a rock arm also within and extending across the casing, a rod connecting said arm with the first-named rock arm, and 'a spring to normally hold said lever in closed position at one side of the casin In testimony whereo? I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. MORGAN. Witnesses:

A. VERDDUGO,

CHAS. G. HUNTER. 

